As good as debian's package system is, I can't find any way to find out what packages depended upon a package which has been removed. For example, if I remove the communicator-smotif package, I'd like to be able to also remove the packages it depended upon. I know I could check the 'Depends:' line for a package before I remove it, but it would be nice if that information was included as part of the package removal process. Perhaps even an option to dpkg to remove a package and all packages that it depended on (as long as those packages are required by another package).
It would also be nice if there was a command that could be used to look for a package based on a description (for example, I'd like to quickly find out which package gives me quake, or the realvideo player). I know that I can peruse the 'available' file for this information, but from a new users' perspective, there should be a more obvious way to do this. Finally, I was wondering if there were any efforts underway to merge RedHat's and Debian's package formats. Yes, I know 'alien' can handle rpms, but it can't handle conflicts in filenames and so forth between rpms and official debs. If the linux community could have a common package format (like we have a common kernel), it would allow users to mix and match packages from different sources (assuming there was some common base system). Maybe it's a pipe dream, but I think it would be neat to be able to change distributions just by installing a few packages. -- Scott Barker [EMAIL PROTECTED] Linux Consultant http://www.mostlylinux.ab.ca/scott Looking for a husband? Know anyone looking for a husband? Well, I'm looking for a wife. See http://www.mostlylinux.ab.ca/scott/wife.shtml Want a good deal on a personal computer in Calgary, Alberta, Canada? Visit http://www.mostlylinux.ab.ca/scott/computers.shtml [ Unsolicited commercial and junk e-mail will be proof-read for US$100 ] "Never underestimate the power of human stupidity." - ???